Frustrations rising over LRT construction
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Calgary Herald
an hour ago
- Calgary Herald
Despite raging wildfires, Canada's breadbasket expected to deliver plentiful crop
Smoke from wildfires has shrouded grain farming regions in Saskatchewan, but most fields have avoided drought-like conditions and received the moisture they need to grow a plentiful crop this season. Article content But variable weather, uncertain grain prices and a volatile trade environment have made farmers and industry watchers cautious about taking a victory lap just yet. Article content Article content 'For Saskatchewan and Western Canada, we are expecting yields to actually be above the five- and ten-year averages,' Anderson said. 'We use satellite imagery to predict yields and patterns, and what we see right now is looking like how 2020 was coming together. That year that was a pretty good yielding crop.' Article content Having said that, Anderson was cautious, adding that farmers are not through the growing season yet. Many areas have crops that look good but still need more rain. Article content Hot and dry conditions have turned northern Saskatchewan's boreal forest into a tinderbox this spring and summer, sparking a challenging wildfire season that has forced thousands of people to flee from their homes. Article content Many farms across the Prairies suffered a severe drought in 2021 after record-high temperatures and a lack of rain decimated crops. Article content Article content For growing regions in southern Saskatchewan, this season is turning out to be far better, but the industry expects some challenges. Prices for some commodities could be down, and higher input costs are expected to reduce farm incomes. Article content Article content Commodities not protected by Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA, could be hit with tariffs at the Canada-U.S. border, and transportation delays could continue to hamper shipments to global markets. Article content Jake Leguee, who grows a variety of crops on his farm in south-east Saskatchewan, said this year is looking promising, but that's not the case for all regions of the province. Article content 'Conditions are pretty good for us,' said Leguee, the chair of SaskWheat, an organization dedicated to enhancing Saskatchewan's wheat production. 'We've had our dry periods, but we've been able to get timely enough rain to keep things going.'
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
This Canadian Utility Stock Just Boosted Its Payout and Now Yields Nearly 5%
If you're looking for a top dividend stock to add to your portfolio, Capital Power (TSX:CPX) is one you won't want to overlook. This power-generation company has a stable business, and it believes that it's largely insulated from U.S. tariffs. Management is confident in the company's ability to perform at a high level, which is evident in Capital Power's board recently approving a 6% dividend increase. The new quarterly payout of $0.691 per share quates to an annualized dividend of $2.764. And with the stock trading at around $56, that means investors who buy today can collect a yield of around 4.9%. It's the 12 th consecutive year that the company has raised its payout, as it builds up its reputation of being a dependable dividend growth stock. The company's adjusted EBITDA for the most recent quarter was $322 million, which was nearly identical from the $323 million it reported a year ago. Capital Power recently closed two acquisition, one for Hummel Station (in Pennsylvania) and for Rolling Hills (in Ohio), which will expand its operations in the U.S. and lead to more growth for the business in the future. Investing in energy companies can be a good way for dividend investors to benefit from long-term stability while collecting above-average payouts. Since companies like Capital Power benefit from a great deal of recurring revenue, they can make for fairly good long-term investments. Over the past five years, Capital Power's stock has doubled in value, and that's without factoring in its dividend over that stretch. Trading at 18 times its estimated future earnings, this can be a good dividend stock to buy and hold right now.
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Time to buy a shiny new car? Used vehicle prices are rising
Canadians shopping for a brand new car may be surprised that prices have dropped compared with a year ago, while those looking for used vehicles could pay thousands of dollars more than last summer, according to a new report. That said, prices are expected to jump for both vehicle types in the second half of the year, says the AutoTrader report released last week. Used vehicle prices jumped 3.6 per cent year-over-year in June, hovering at an average of $37,664, the report shows. That's compared with a 12-per-cent dip in the used car market throughout 2024. On the other hand, new vehicle prices dipped about 3.5 per cent year-over-year in June, to $64,445. Amazon wants to sell you cars online. Here's what it could mean for shoppers and auto sellers in Canada 'It's not what we expected to see,' said Baris Akyurek, vice-president of insights and intelligence at AutoTrader, about both used and new cars. 'Usually, [used car] prices start on the higher side, and come down throughout the year,' he added, while new car prices usually go up slightly, commensurate with inflation. But that trend reversed in March as a result of fears of American tariff igniting Canadian demand and exacerbating inventory shortages in used vehicles, though demand is catching up in the new car market as well. The inventory of used cars has slumped 16.8 per cent year-over-year because of surging demand and a persisting supply gap created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2020 and 2023, approximately 1.5 million fewer new cars were sold in Canada owing to production disruptions, Mr. Akyurek said. The decline in new car sales meant that fewer vehicles trickled down into the used car supply, and that is now showing up as a lingering inventory shortage. In contrast, new car inventory was high at the start of 2025, with about 87 days of supply available, significantly above the industry norm of 60, Mr. Akyurek said. This surplus was the result of production finally catching up post-COVID, combined with slightly softer demand earlier in the winter. 'Then obviously Trump comes to power, and these tariff conversations come about,' he said. 'Everybody was talking about doom and gloom scenarios, like 'Oh, within a week, there won't be any cars produced … that scared consumers off.' In a February AutoTrader survey, 47 per cent of respondents said tariffs would impact their purchases, and 31 per cent said they would switch from new to used vehicles. With shoppers fearing higher prices for any cars, many rushed toward the used market, where prices were generally cheaper but inventory was already constrained. 'New vehicles prices are decreasing as older inventory is being sold first in expectation that newer inventory will be impacted by tariffs,' said Daniel Ross, senior manager of industry insights and residual value strategy at Canadian Black Book. Buying a used car is harder than it used to be and it's likely to get worse At the same time, demand for both types of vehicles has been steadily eroding the higher inventory cushion in the new vehicle market. New vehicle inventory has now fallen 12 per cent year-over-year in June, according to AutoTrader. Regionally, Ontario stands out as the only province where used car prices declined slightly in June. 'That might be related to the inventory composition, might be related to where the demand is and the cars that are available in Ontario,' Mr. Akyurek said. Used vehicle prices in Canada have already risen for four consecutive months and now sit above 2024 levels, setting the stage for continued price increases through the second half of 2025 if demand continues. AutoTrader data also showed that prices for both new and used electric vehicles have been falling across the board, with demand slumping as governments cut incentives for zero-emission vehicles. ZEV sales dipped 45 per cent in March and close to 30 per cent in April. For car shoppers, Mr. Ross said it's a better time to buy a new vehicle, as financing incentives are attractive and certain brands are eager to reduce inventory. Average new car interest rates now hover around 5.4 per cent, down from 6.6 per cent in June, 2024, Mr. Akyurek said. However, it's not a great time for a used car purchase, Mr. Ross said: 'Prices have already gone up, and we could see them start to fall in the last quarter of the year.'
